Shloka 87
कृपस्य पार्थ: सशरं शरासनं हयान् ध्वजान् सारथिमेव पत्रिभि: | समार्पयद् बाहुसहस्रविक्रम- स्तथा यथा वज्रधर: पुरा बले:,सहस्र भुजाओंवाले कार्तवीर्य अर्जुनके समान पराक्रमी कुन्तीकुमार अर्जुनने अपने बाणोंद्वारा कृपाचार्यके बाणसहित धनुष, घोड़े, ध्वज और सारथिको भी उसी प्रकार बींध डाला, जैसे पूर्वकालमें वज्रधारी इन्द्रने राजा बलिके धनुष आदिको क्षतिग्रस्त कर दिया था
kṛpasya pārthaḥ saśaraṃ śarāsanaṃ hayān dhvajān sārathim eva patribhiḥ | samārpayad bāhusahasravikramaḥ tathā yathā vajradharaḥ purā baleḥ ||
Karna said: Arjuna, son of Pṛthā—whose prowess was like that of the thousand-armed hero—shot feathered arrows and struck down Kṛpa’s bow together with its arrows, and also his horses, banner, and even the charioteer. He did so just as Indra, wielder of the thunderbolt, once shattered the weapons and equipment of King Bali in ancient times.
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in the chaos of righteous war, mastery and force can decisively disable an opponent’s entire fighting apparatus (weapon, mobility, and support staff). It invites reflection on the ethical edge of battlefield conduct: victory may demand total neutralization, yet such acts also intensify the moral weight borne by warriors.
Karna narrates that Arjuna attacks Kṛpa with a volley of arrows, piercing not only Kṛpa’s bow (with its arrows) but also the horses, the banner, and even the charioteer—rendering Kṛpa’s chariot-combat effectively crippled. The feat is compared to Indra’s ancient overpowering of King Bali.